Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane announced plans to introduce legislation that would award independent journalist Nick Shirley the Congressional Medal of Honor for his investigative work exposing alleged fraud schemes within Minnesota’s Somali community.

“I want to thank and acknowledge the independent reporters Nick Shirley and Dave Hock, who broke this story wide open,” Crane said during an Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday. “I’m introducing a bill to award Nick Shirley with the Congressional Medal for his explosive work in exposing astronomical fraud in Minnesota.”

Shirley, who publishes his investigative journalism on social media platforms and YouTube, has gained national attention for his recent exposés in Minnesota. His work has documented numerous daycare, medical, and benefits facilities that appeared to be shell operations despite receiving millions in government funding.

The video journalist visited multiple establishments across the state, finding many locations with minimal setups and little to no client activity. Most notably, when Shirley attempted to sign up for services at these facilities, he was repeatedly turned away—raising questions about their legitimacy and operations.

While Shirley’s investigations covered only a fraction of suspected fraudulent operations, they provided tangible evidence of how these schemes functioned in practice. His work has complemented broader federal investigations suggesting Minnesota may have lost as much as $9 billion through elaborate fraud networks.

“The reason I’m doing this is because the American people are sick and tired of this, and they’re sick and tired of mainstream media not covering any of it,” Crane explained during the committee hearing.

The congressman praised Shirley’s methodical approach, noting that his video documentation revealed critical insights into Minnesota’s apparent lack of oversight and the relative ease with which these alleged schemes could be exposed when properly investigated.

Crane’s proposed legislation comes amid growing scrutiny of federal benefits programs in Minnesota. The state has become the center of multiple investigations into how government funds designated for childcare, healthcare, and other social services may have been systematically diverted through fraudulent operations.

The investigations have attracted bipartisan attention, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concern about the potential scale of the fraud. Federal authorities are now intensifying their efforts, with the Department of Justice sending additional prosecutors to Minnesota to address the allegations.

The alleged fraud schemes have sparked broader questions about accountability and oversight of federal funding at the state level. Crane suggested the situation raises significant concerns about state leadership, saying: “The biggest question that most Americans have is this: is this incompetence at the executive level with the governor and attorney general—or are they involved?”

Shirley’s investigative work represents a growing trend of independent journalists using digital platforms to conduct and publish investigations that might otherwise go unreported. His 42-minute documentary-style video detailing the apparent fraud has amassed millions of views online and prompted mainstream media outlets to follow up on his findings.

The Congressional Medal of Honor, which Crane proposes awarding to Shirley, is the highest civilian award granted by Congress. While typically reserved for extraordinary acts of patriotism or national service, Crane’s proposal underscores how he views the significance of Shirley’s investigative journalism in exposing alleged misuse of taxpayer funds.

As federal investigators continue their work in Minnesota, the impact of Shirley’s citizen journalism has already demonstrated how independent reporting can influence public policy discussions and prompt official action on issues of government accountability.